mattislearning

[mattislearning]

New and big news for me and my Perch squad! 

I’ve made it to Los Angeles and this is what I’ll be putting my time and energy and life into! 

If you can, any contribution to this campaign would be a massive help! 

DONATE HERE!

The Chicago Perch is growing Westerly and expanding its reach with a new chapter in Los Angeles!

By contributing to our IndieGoGo campaign (link), you can help us acquire the necessary equipment and tools needed to further our publishing efforts, as well as maintain the operating budget needed to expand our exhibition and educational initiatives to a new city as our work in Chicago continues to grow.

You can make a contribution and get cool stuff in return here!

We want to express our utmost gratitude for your support and involvement through this exciting moment of growth for us!

With our warmest regards,

The Perch Family

[mattislearning]

About a month ago, I scraped some money together created a custom portfolio box at The Perch, made some prints at LATITUDE, and signed up for some portfolio reviews at this year’s Filter Photo Festival in Chicago.  I had confidently been making work and keeping it tucked away, thinking I was okay without the feedback, until shit got real [ I quit a lucrative and soul-fulfilling job ] and I realized that maybe I was just a little bit afraid to put my work out there. So I pushed that fear to the side, enough to sneak by and meet some new faces, pay for 20 minutes of their focused time and get some feedback.  I wasn’t really sure what I was in for, but as I watched each of the reviewers’ hands delicately flip from one image to the next, their eyes slowly moving across each page, I understood that all of the time and effort I put into getting prepared for the review was worth it. All of the time and effort invested in creating the images, worth it. All of the anxiety presented when thinking about the work, worth it.  But most importantly I was reminded of the importance of believing in the work and putting it out there.

That being said, I’ve never been good at standing in the spotlight alone, nor do I want to get used to that, because I am fully aware that what I have been able to accomplish has come with a great deal of help. My dear friends/brothers, Matt Austin and Walker Blackwell really helped set me up for success. Their skill paired with their willingness to help seems endless.  I was also guided through my first experience of a portfolio review by the kindness of James Pepper Kelly, Erin Hoyt and Sarah Hadley— three incredibly hard-working and energized individuals.  

The list of those that I’ve come across that have helped me and influenced me positively can go on and on, that’s for sure.  I’m working on a piece about that… give me a minute.

Below are some links to things that happened as a result of the reviews. Acknowledgments and kind words indeed. I look forward to making more work, sharing more work and then making more work.  The list of goals is getting really specific.

http://elinspringphotography.com/blog/inspiration-101/

http://www.crusadeforart.org/blog/leave-behinds

http://detroitccp.org/In-Review-2014

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New Perch publication by my boy Jono. 

New Perch publication All the Things…by Jonathan Pivovar will be on display at the Burren College of Art's Middle of Everywhere exhibition until August 8. 

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The City of Chicago is supporting The Perch's 2014 efforts in a huge way, I'm so excited to turn this money into books which will turn into more money for other artists and authors. 

Thank you, Rahm. <3

Matt Austin was recently awarded the DCASE Individual Artists Program Grant…this means that The Perch will be publishing many more books and hosting more dinners this year! Hoo-rah!

Stay tuned!

[mattislearning]

The Ace Hotel graciously featured my book opening for The Shape of Spilled Milk at my dear friend Kristen Shaw's Cabin 207. Take a minute to read her words and watch this video. 

Thanks to Rebecca Votta and Victor Yañez for making that video look slick! And to my bro for the brotherly and musical support. 

Los Angeles, CA 

Secret sharing: we like Cabin 207 in the old City of Angels. Kristin Shaw helms the ship at Cabin, styling and curating and making people feel like the whole world is smiling right along with them. Recently Cabin had a release reading for Matt Austin’s book, The Shape of Spilled Milk. Kristin was kind enough to write some words inspired by Matt’s work and their friendship:

  My hands are allowing me to type this story to you. 

So hi, I’m glad we’ve finally met.

  We have this in common: hands.

  When I was a kid, I used to draw log cabins. I tried to make these as intricate as possible, securing my position for a future home we would build. 

I remember sitting with my sketchbook, drawing the samehome over and over again. Practice makes perfect and perfect makes perfection. Could my hand actually draw the same thing twice? 

  I didn’t know what the most perfect home looked like, or the most perfect love to put in it, but I somehow trusted what I could do with my hands.

  I do know what it looks like. 

I know what this feels like.

I don’t know how to get there, 

I don’t know the formula, 

I don’t know what it’s like to do things the perfect way.

  16 years later from the first day I drew a log cabin, I can write to you from mine. We make things here, we tell stories, we love, we listen, and welcome you to create and bring alive something you’ve always wanted to build. Every day I do this, I have this heartbeat that keeps a pulse so strong that I need people even stronger to be limbs to keep this moving. That’s where Matt Austin comes in for me. An old friend of mine since 16, chatting on the Internet about a contribution I asked him to make to a book I was putting together of collected Midwestern artist’s work. We shifted and sifted through the years living in different places until I found him sitting in my cabin two weeks ago, reading stories, sharing goosebumps, making people cry.

  We innately float to the most beautiful places when we trust our instincts. Movements make free motion, and you create what you feel is true—not because you’re told to, not because its perfect, but because when pressing bones, you’ll always know where to go. 

[mattislearning]

Tonight!

Tonight marks the last day of the first year of the Interpreter in Residence program at the Smart Museum of Art.  5:00 – 7:30 pm  5550 S Greenwood in the courtyard I hope you can come out, have a few drinks, make a few toasts, and write the ending to my forthcoming book about this residency, to be published for the Smart’s collection.  See you soon! More event information here:https://www.facebook.com/events/1440460742878129/

[mattislearning]

Get them while you can...a new book from The Perch by Jessica Pierotti!

We are proud to announce the newest Perch publication is now available:

Lake Michigan (42) by Jessica Pierotti 

$12 each, produced in an edition of 30 inkjet printed, hand-sewn booklets (5.5”x7”).

Get one of these beautes HERE. 

[mattislearning]

New poster published by Oranbeg Press, check it out!

Interleaves Spotlight: Matt Austin

Buy an interleaf in our Shop!

Interleaves Page

ALSO

 Check out our newest  NET open call Oranbeg NET 06: Art as Theory with curators Sarah Pfohl and Derek R. Ford. 

Oranbeg NET 05: Bastards is nearing its completion, the announcement will be in a few days and think about what you can send in for your double sided  4”x7” Beta card. 

[mattislearning]

Apologies for the late post on the blog here, but I am very excited and grateful to announce my inclusion in NewCity's Breakout Artists of 2014. 

Read the article by Jason Foumberg here.

You'll be able to grab printed copies around Chicago until May 8. 

[mattislearning]

My new book The Shape of Spilled Milk releases next week at Cabin 207 in downtown Los Angeles!

The Shape of Spilled Milk is a book of stories and photographs covering a variety of moments–from reflections on the intimacy of romantic mornings, internet dream girls, and two-hour haircuts, encounters with birds trapped in airports and elevator handshakes with The President, to ideas of future eulogies and how Saturdays can feel in Pittsburgh–this book carries the theme of trying to be better through the process of remembering the old you(s) and old me(s). 

The book will be available for purchase after the release on April 26!

-First edition copies selling for $25 + shipping (will be available through my website and at Cabin 207)

-Available in 7 colors (seen above)

-6.5" x 8" perfect bound, 156 pages with silkscreened covers by Tyler Deal

-Signed and numbered edition of 250

-an introduction by Tempestt Hazel

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE RELEASE EVENT HERE.

[mattislearning]

Let’s Get Working is a three-day festival celebrating the legacy of Studs Terkel, revisiting his work and tracing his influence through oral histories, film screenings, performances, art installations, storytelling, and community dialogues.

The Perch will be involved in this festival in a few capacities:

1. The Perch office from the Smart Museum Interpreter in Residence Program will be installed at the Logan Center during the festival for visitors to engrave and talk. 

2. The Perch’s founder Matt Austin will be on a panel discussion about Storytelling on the Saturday morning programming of the festival.

3. The Perch will be representing all of its publications and products at the Book and Information Fair on the first floor of the Logan. 

We’re looking forward to it! Hope to see you there. 

More info here. 

[mattislearning]

My most recent post on Verve, Marwen's educational resource blog about proper assessment of student enthusiasm and teacher capabilities:

Misunderstanding Indicators = Misunderstood Outcomes

For the teachers / learners of the world, peep it out!

[mattislearning]

Hey all! My new book The Shape of Spilled Milk will be available in a short few weeks. 

The covers have been skillfully printed by Ty Deal of Idiot Pull.

Only a few more pieces of construction and the edition of 250 will be  released at Cabin 207 on April 26. 

Did I mention the book is available in 7 different colors? And the cover  feels like skin!

[mattislearning]

I wrote my first post for Marwen's educational resource blog: VERVE!

Check it out.

[mattislearning]

how can i buy some of your pieces?

Here is one way!

Or you can e-mail me.

[mattislearning]

Mom made it to Paris.

Thanks Cécile!

My friend Matt Austin has recently launched a project called "I’M HERE: a two-part tribute to my mother / For the Birds Trapped in Airports.”

I’ve received it in the mail not so long ago and felt so deeply touched by it that I felt inspired to take some pictures of me with it. Here’s one of them. One picture to bring joy, hapiness, hope. One picture to also say “fuck you cancer !”. One picture to say “you’re not alone”. One picture to share a smile and much much love.

Enjoy the ride of reading or purchasing it if you feel up to because it does really worth it.

[mattislearning]

Day 5, final chapter.

Be My Guest / Spreading The Love / Day 5

VIA / The Perch

The Mamas and The Papas - If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Your Ears - California Dreaming

[ reconcile ]

“Now?” he shifted his weight, “Where? To what?”

“Now, yes,” she spoke with confidence. “I don’t care, put something on.”

“Honey, I don’t know if I’m up for this right now…do we have to?”

“No, we don’t,” she shrugged and turned to him, “but here are the conditions for turning me down for a dance: 1. you tell me why we aren’t going to dance right now and 2. you put music on that says how much you love me.”

“Deal.” He got up and moved toward the boxes he built that cradle their combined record collection. “Okay, condition number 1, here we go…” he said as he began scouring the vinyl from left to right, “do you remember the conversation we were having earlier, the one before I left for the bus this morning?”

“I do, yes. About work stuff?”

“Yes. Remember how I told you how I was going to stick to this company for awhile, and gain my management position, and make us some extra money… really persist and get us ahead a little bit… Do you remember that?”

“Yes, I remember.”

He pulled a record out and put it back, “Good! So then you remember your response to me…”

“No, I don’t. What did I say?”

“Oh, you don’t? Just nevermind it then,” he waved behind him, “that’s not important.”

“Come on! Tell me, I honestly don’t remember.”

"No, no, no. It’s okay. Don’t worry."

"I’m sorry! Did I upset you? I didn’t mean anything by it…”

He turned back with a different record in his hand and smiled at her, “Whoa there! Look who’s worried about their footing now!”

“Please tell me,” she sighed, “what did I say to you?”

“Well, okay,” he pulled a record out of the sleeve and examined its surface, “you were arguing against my reasons for trying to stick to this job - like you always do. But this time, you spoke with absolute certainty: ‘You’ll never be able to do it,’ you said.”

“Oh god, honey. I’m sorry… I—”

“And I realized it in the few seconds I spent in that cool vintage elevator today… that you are completely right - I will never be able to do it. I don’t say that in the same way that I say I won’t dance. What I mean is that I won’t be able to live a life that I can already see: the lack of challenges, the confident bus card swipes, the walking, climbing, and elevator riding with heavy attention focused on a future that holds few surprises.”

“Well, maybe it’s not all that bad. I mean, don’t you think you can still surprise yourself?” she asked.

He smiled as he lowered the needle into the groove of the vinyl, “My love, I’d like to present to you: condition number 2…”